Old man's bike

[CharlesHarris]

My property fronts on a body of water known on the USGS topographical survey maps as Back Creek. It is deep enough to paddle a canoe nearly year-round, in in places is shallow enough to wade, if the water is not running too fast. DNR stocks it with trout and their are also crappie and smallmouth bass in plentiful supply. A fellow could feed himself with light spin casting or fly fishing gear using small spinners and popping bugs. Unfortunately the creek is downhill from the house about 200 yards, a steep slope is which is more easily traversed down down to the creek than in climbing back to the house!

When I want to fish, truth be told I drive down to the bridge where SR45 crosses the creek at Glengary, then walk the trail upstream and wade the shallows and fish the eddies from where I can see the house up on the mountainside, then after catching supper I walk back to the car, being thankful for the modern convenience. But in the spring it is wonderful to build a small fire on one of the gravel bars, and roast a freshly caught Brookie or WV Golden trout on a stick, basted with a strip of bacon and to sip a cold lager retrieved from its rocky cache amongst the icy waters. I do believe this is why the state motto of West Virginia is "Almost Heaven."